Vent cap or plug for oil or like tanks.



A. A. KRAMER. VENT CAP 08 PLUG FOR OIL 0R LIKE TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. H, 1917.

Patented Mar. 12, 1 18.

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ANDREW A. KRAMER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

VENT GAP OB PLUG FOR OIL OB LIKE TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed. April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW A. KRAMER, a citizen of the United States residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vent Caps or Plugs for Oil or like Tanks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to wh1ch it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vent caps or plugs for oil or like tanks and has for its princ1pal object to provide a cap of this character which may be threaded into a filling opening to prevent leakage therethrough and wherein a duplex valve mechanism is contained whereby air may be admitted into the tank as required by the withdrawal of its contents, and whereby the discarge of gas, generated by heating of the tank, or otherwise, is permitted.

In accomplishing this object, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure I is a sectional view of a tank equipped with a cap constructed according to my invention.

Fig. II is a sectional view through the cap, illustrating the duplex valve mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a closed tank, such as is ordinarily used on wagons or trucks for the ftransportion of oil or the like, having a filling opening 2 at pipe 3 leading from its base provided at its end with a faucet 4 which may be opened or closed to regulate the flow of liquid from the tank.

The opening 2 is inclosed by an internally threaded collar 5 having a base flange 6 thereon which may be bolted or the tank body, and threaded into the collar is a cap, or plug 7 embodying the present invention, whereb the filling open ng is closed to prevent eakage or evaporation of the contents of the tank.

Ihe cap 7 comprises a body 8, WhlCh may be threaded into the collar 5 and has an anthe top and a discharge welded onto.

nular flanged portion 9, adapted to seat against the top'of the collar to limit the inward movement of the body, and formed integrally with the cap on the top and under side thereof are bosses 10-11, wherein the valve parts are located; the upper boss 10 being preferably square in horizontal cross sectlon, so that it may be used as a. wrench head to facilitate movement of the cap into or from the collar 5.

Extending through the cap bosses is a longitudinal channel 13, of varying diameter and closed at its outer and inner ends respectively by plugs 14 and 15, the plug 15 being provided with a wrench head 16 and :the outer plug havinga groove 17 for receiving a screw driver or wrench, whereby itmay be removed or adjusted in the channel.

The channel 13, adjacent its outer end, comprises an enlarged chamber 18, having a valve seat 19 at its base for receiving a ball valve 20, and below the chamber 18 is a smaller chamber 21 having a valve seat 22 at its base for seating a ball valve 23. Opening into the chamber 18 is a channel '24, which extends in a downward course from the chamber and opens to the exterior of the boss 10, and opening into the side of the chamber 22 is a channel 25 which leads downwardly and opens at the base of the boss 11 to the interior of the tank. A channel 26 also leads from the channel 25 upwardly and opens adjacent the under face of the cap to the interior of the tank to permit the intake of air to the tank when the tank is filled above the opening'at the base of the boss 11.

Opening to the exterior of the tank at the side of the boss 10, is a channel 28 which extends downwardly into the boss 11 and opens into the channel 13 below the ball valve 23.

Assuming that the cap is so constructed and the channels, ball chambers and valve seats so formed, in assembling the parts of the device the channel 13 is closed at its lower end by the insertion of the plug 15, the balls 23 and 20 seated in the chambers 21 and 18 respectively and the plug threaded into the upper end of the channel to close the latter and'to prevent displacement of the balls from the valve seats.

It is apparent that with the cap so constructed and in place in the opening 5, when the contents of the tank is withdrawn through the discharge pipe 3, the tendency to create a vacuum within the tank is prevented by the aission oi: air thereto through the channels 28l3 and 25; the hall 23 being raised from its seat 22 by externalair pressure asthe internal pressure is reduced by the withdrawal of the contents of the tank When the operator checks the flow from the tank by the closing of the faucet 4, the hall again resumes its seat tolprevent any leakage through the channe s.

If gas should be gn'erated within the tank by heating or other causes, its escape is made possible through the channels 2513 and 24; in such case the ball 20 is raised from its seat 19 by the pressure of such generated gas to permit the escape of the gas but returns to close the channel when the external and internal pressure of the tank become equalized.

It is apparent that h locating the valve parts within the cap ho y, valves ordinarily used and which are threaded into the cap or, other parts of the tank may be eliminated, and a more sightly and compact equipment is provided,

fit is also apparent that by so constructing the parts leakage is prevented from the tank and at the same time an outlet for internally generated gases is provided, insuring safety from explosion to those who operate the tank,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

fl. A cap of the character described, having a vertical channel extending there.

through and inwardly closing spaced valves in said channel, the said cap also having channels leading from opposite sides of the valves to the exterior of the cap and having a channel leadin to the interior 0 the cap.

2. A cap of the character described comprising a threaded body havi g an extended boss on its outer face and h ving a longitudinal channel closed at its ends and provided with intermediate inner and outer inwardly closing valves; the said cap also having channels leading fromthe exterior of the cap into the longitudinal channel at opposite sides of said valves, and a channel leading from'hetween the valves to the intericr of the cap.

3. A cap of the character described, comprising an annular threaded body having a peripheral flange and integral inner and outer bosses; the said cap having a longitudinal channel extending through the hosscd portions thereof and opening to the exterior of the cap, spaced valve seats'in said channel and ball valves mounted on said seats, the said caps also having a channel opening to the longitudinal channel between the valves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

\ ANDREW A. KRAMER.

from between the valves 

